Arizona Lawyers, @AZStateBar Aid Veterans in StandDown Event

Volunteer lawyers counsel veterans at the 2013 Arizona StandDown. (photo: Alberto Rodriguez)

Today, I share some great news from the State Bar of Arizona, as communicated by my colleague Alberto Rodriguez. Congratulations and thank you to all the Arizona lawyers who participated:

On Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, the State Bar of Arizona and 24 of its members participated in the 2013 Arizona Veterans StandDown. The State Bar and volunteer attorneys joined several service providers at the three-day event that offered a variety of health and human services to homeless and at-risk veterans in our state. Volunteer attorneys from across the valley fielded legal questions via one-on-one consultations with veterans seeking legal advice.

Volunteers Roger Ferland and Kay at the 2013 Arizona StandDown. (photo: Alberto Rodriguez)

The “Civil Law Clinic” organized by the State Bar offered legal consultations by members who practice Family Law, Bankruptcy/Foreclosure/Tax Law, Elder/Mental Health Law, and Real Estate/Landlord & Tenant Law.

Volunteer attorneys provided 322 consultations during the two-day civil law clinic for the 254 veterans who were seen. In addition, many attorneys offered pro-bono legal services to veterans who needed representation.

The following is a list of committed attorney and logistics volunteers:

Attorney Volunteers:

Jennifer Alewelt

Jennifer Boucek

Steven Clark

Stasy Click

Kristen Coyne

Patrick Derksen

Ben Dodge

Tracy Essig

Meredith Flori

Kirk A. Guinn

Stacey L. Johnson

Harry Keidan

Cynthia Kelley

Katherine Kraus

Joseph W. Kruchek

Alyssa Medina

Bill Miller

Judy M. Miller

Kay A. Nehring

Louis G. Parker

Jane Proctor

Ryan Scott

Charles Sears

Gosia M. Zawislak

Logistics Volunteers:

Ann Bean, Dodge & Vega

Roger Ferland, MLAC Chair

Donene Olmstead, Dodge & Vega

Kay Nehring, Nehring Law Office

Veteran Edward Cook, alongside a photo of his younger self, at the 2013 Arizona StandDown. (photo: Alberto Rodriguez)

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Update on @AZStateBar Abogados a Su Lado Consumer Call-In Program

This morning, an update from my colleague Alberto Rodriguez at the State Bar of Arizona:

The State Bar of Arizona and Univision 33 hosted the final Abogados a Su Lado (“Lawyers at Your Side”) of 2012 on Monday, December 10. The following is a recap from the public service program.

Summary: Volunteer attorneys answered 93 calls during the two-hour phone bank focused on criminal charges/issues. The following is a small sample of the questions that were received:

• Can I get my license reinstated after receiving a DUI?
• How does receiving a misdemeanor charge affect my immigration case/status?
• How is a potential sentence determined?
• Should I hire a private attorney or use a public defender? What are the differences?
• What are the repercussions of getting a DUI?
• How do I take care of a warrant issued in another state?

All the Abogados a Su Lado volunteers were first-time participants. Calls were consistent from 5 to 7 p.m., which led to another successful phone bank.

In 2012, 20 Abogados a Su Lado volunteer attorneys answered legal questions from 284 consumers during three separate phone banks.

The State Bar of Arizona and Univision 33 will continue to provide the Abogados a Su Lado public service program in 2013 and are currently identifying dates and topics for the new year.

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Divorce the Subject of Volunteer Lawyers Event

The State Bar of Arizona hosts another in its series of successful lawyer-volunteer events this evening. “Lawyers on Call,” the successful longtime partnership with Phoenix’s 12 News KPNX TV, will focus tonight on divorce and child support. Read the Arizona Republic story here.

The event is held the first Tuesday of every month. As always, people with questions may call 602-258-1212 from 5 to 7 p.m.

I wrote before about the event and its remarkable track record of service to the public. That story includes the Bar’s upcoming roster of topics through the end of the year.

Congratulations and thanks to tonight’s volunteer lawyers (click on their names for more information):

• Jennifer Lambert
• Clarence Calvin
• Jennifer Moshier
• Cole Bastian
• Greg Davis
• Laura Gillis
• Jennifer Shick
• Heidi Lukacsik

(The news story spelled one lawyer’s name wrong; it’s not Heidi Kukascik, but Lukacsik.)

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Volunteers Sought

An opportunity to serve the justice system is available for members of the public. Yesterday, the State Bar of Arizona issued the following press release about openings on the Character & Fitness Committee.

Here it is: 

Public Members Sought for Supreme Court Committee

PHOENIX – Aug. 1, 2011 – The State Bar of Arizona is supporting the Supreme Court of Arizona in its effort to recruit two public/non-attorney members for its Committee on Character and Fitness. Applications are available now.

This Committee is responsible for recommending applicants for admission to the practice of law in Arizona.  The Supreme Court then considers the recommendations and either grants or denies admission.  On a yearly basis, the Committee reviews and evaluates approximately 1,200 applications.

The Committee conducts at least one formal hearing monthly in either Phoenix or Tucson.  Members are expected to participate in each formal hearing, and in informal hearings held throughout the state on a voluntary participation basis.  In addition, membership requires independent review of applicant files amounting to approximately 25-40 hours per month.   

Expenses are paid for all meetings/hearings, but there is no other compensation for service as a Committee member.

Application forms to become a public member are due by Monday, Aug. 22, 2011, and can be obtained by contacting Nina Benham at the State Bar of Arizona at 602-340-7329 or at nina.benham@staff.azbar.org.  Interactive application forms may also be downloaded from the Bar’s web site at www.azbar.org.  Interviews of selected candidates will occur in September.

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Lawyers On Call Update

Here is some news from Alberto Rodriguez at the State Bar of Arizona, in regard to its Lawyers On Call public service program, in which volunteer attorneys take phone calls from the public on a variety of issues. It is held at the studios of 12 News KPNX–TV in Phoenix.

The most recent monthly event was held on February 1. The topic was tax-related issues.

From the Bar: 

Volunteer attorneys fielded a whopping 214 calls regarding tax-related issues. Most frequently asked questions were:

• How do foreclosures affect my taxes?
• How does bankruptcy affect my taxes?
• Do I need to file taxes?
• How does unemployment affect my taxes?
• Are disability, unemployment, and social security taxable?
• General questions about deductions, filing, and returns.

The volunteers were satisfied with the quality of the questions overall. Calls were consistent from 5 to 7 p.m., which led to another successful phone bank.

Lawyers On Call has helped more than 214 Arizonans so far in 2011 and more than 1,676 Arizonans in 2010. The program has helped more than 12,224 people in the seven years 12 News KPNX -TV has broadcast the program.

The March 1 edition of Lawyers On Call will address divorce and child support issues.

More on Lawyers on Call is here.